By Zephyria 
The moment the sliding door closed, the front door opened. Madam Im appeared with an elegant air, dressed in a bright lime green two-piece suit. Seeing Kwon Young-je standing in the middle of the living room, she raised her already sharp eyes even more fiercely.
“So, you were home after all?”
Kwon Young-je let out a short sigh at that. He wondered what all this nonsense was about.
“Why did you come?”
“You’re really something. How can you never once greet me properly? Chief Choi, bring those inside.”
As Madam Im gave a slight jerk of her chin, her attendant, Chief Choi, who had followed her in, busily moved. He was carrying heavy boxes in both hands. With ginseng, deer antler, and ink wash paintings depicted on them, they looked exactly like items brought from a traditional Korean medicine clinic.
It wasn’t unusual for Madam Im to bring prepared tonics. But the quantity was beyond ordinary. Kwon Young-je leaned against the wall nonchalantly and quietly watched Chief Choi’s actions.
Last time, the one who had cleaned up the mess in the hotel parking lot was Chief Choi. This was their first time meeting face-to-face since then, and he wore a perfectly businesslike expression as if nothing had happened. Chief Choi was also a man of strong professional spirit.
Madam Im, unable to contain her curiosity, had asked how things were progressing between the two, but Kwon Young-je gave absolutely no answer regarding that. Think what you want, he’d said, don’t interfere anymore. He only ever gave cold replies.
Meanwhile, Lim Seo-ran had also entered the house and was scanning the quiet living room. Her son’s house, visited after a long time, was as desolate as ever. With no live-in help, the spacious house looked even more barren.
“No need to make tea. I’ll be leaving soon.”
“Good. I wasn’t planning to serve any anyway.”
Despite her son’s prickly attitude, she merely twitched the corner of her mouth as if it were nothing. She moved towards the living room tea table and personally began sorting through the contents of the boxes. Whether they were precious or not, her handling touch was quite affectionate.
“Where’s Hui-won?”
“Why would you look for Secretary Kim here?”
“Of course he’d be here. Who are you trying to fool?”
Lim Seo-ran swiftly looked around the chilly living room. Her eyes, thickly lined with eyeliner, seemed even sharper.
“Hui-won’s pheromones are vibrating all over this house. Isn’t it funny to pretend otherwise even in a place like this?”
“Mind your own business.”
“Fine. I’m tired of talking to you too. What on earth is good about a guy who spouts such nonsense that you stick with him?”
Lim Seo-ran clicked her tongue and finished examining the tonics she had brought. The plastic packs held in both hands were clearly different at a glance.
“This one is yours, and this side is Secretary Kim’s. They were prepared according to your traits, so make sure to take them separately. If they get mixed up, they won’t be effective.”
Kwon Young-je stared at the bundles of tonic with an indifferent gaze. So that’s why there were two boxes—she had prepared Hui-won’s too. It was so absurd he couldn’t even laugh.
“If you heard me, at least give a reply. Has your mouth sealed shut?”
“If you’re done with your business, you should go.”
Not only couldn’t he say thank you, but he was practically ordering her to leave. Madam Im rolled her eyes as if thoroughly fed up. The two with similar faces stared at each other mercilessly. The one who gave up first was Lim Seo-ran. It was largely because she never expected any warmth from her son in the first place.
“Next time, don’t hide and show your face, I’m telling you. What’s left to hide now? The awkwardness is only temporary. Am I going to eat you alive? It’s not like you’re going to be married to him forever, right?”
It was ambiguous whether the words were directed at Kwon Young-je or meant for Secretary Kim to hear. What was clear was that Lim Seo-ran’s mood was more cheerful than usual. Hui-won’s pheromones, filling the bland, dry house, gave her a definite sense of relief.
“Please go.”
Kwon Young-je shook his chin slightly, urging her to leave once more. At the rude send-off, the corners of Madam Im’s mouth twisted miserably.
But she knew that engaging further would only ruin her own mood. She shot her son a look as if for formality’s sake and turned away. As the uninvited guests left, the house returned to its usual quiet state.
Kwon Young-je, who had been staring at the firmly closed front door, slowly moved. When he slid open the sliding door, Hui-won, who had been hiding inside, lifted his pale face.
As if he had been incredibly tense, the pheromones that had pooled in the narrow pantry came pouring out in a stream.
“…Are they gone?”
“There was absolutely no point in hiding.”
Hui-won had also heard what Madam Im said. Having already been completely discovered, stubbornly hiding had been a foolish act.
“But this is still better.”
Hui-won slowly straightened his cramped, awkwardly crouched posture. Just as his head seemed about to barely graze the corner of the upper shelf, Kwon Young-je reached out and covered the top of his head. Such affectionate actions were a part reserved solely for Kim Hui-won.
“Madam must have prepared tonics again.”
“Wasting money foolishly is her hobby.”
“Could you say it a bit nicer? If you keep acting like that, Madam feels hurt, you know.”
“That doesn’t sound like something I should hear from someone who ran away like they’d lost their mind.”
Ah, that’s true. Hui-won smiled and stepped out. In the middle of the living room, traces of what Madam Im had left behind remained.
Preparing decoctions was like an annual event held every New Year. He’d heard they sourced precious medicinal ingredients through famous wild ginseng diggers, and a renowned traditional doctor took charge of preparing the decoctions.
Of course, Kwon Young-je had never once put it to his lips. No matter how much they urged him, he wouldn’t take it, so the herbal medicine invariably met a fiery end. As he said, it was no different from wasting money.
The precious tonic provided only to family members—starting this year, it seemed one had been given to him too. Madam Im’s vast, sea-like attention and love were no longer even surprising.
Hui-won carefully read the instructions contained in the box. Once a day, a total of 14 days’ worth. Especially effective for restoring vitality.
Picking up a herbal medicine pack, he felt a warm heat through the thin film. It seemed freshly brewed.
Shaking the pack with its deep brown hue well, he handed it to Kwon Young-je, who immediately frowned.
“It’s good for your health.” “When have I ever taken something like that?” “I should take mine, then.”
Hui-won shamelessly tore open the plastic pack. More than feeling it was a waste for the precious medicine to be discarded, his own health was truly important. If things continued like this, he felt he might not hold up and collapse. To handle the physically strong Kwon Young-je, he needed to borrow even the power of tonics.
Swallowing the bitterly bitter medicine made his brow furrow involuntarily. Wow, it’s really bitter. While rinsing his astringent mouth, Kwon Young-je was staring intently at Hui-won. Feeling awkward about being the only one taking something good for his health, Hui-won offered him the tonic again.
“Just try one. It’s… not as bitter as you think.” “Your words and expression don’t match at all. Your pronunciation is slipping because your tongue’s numb right now.” “It’s the rule that things good for the body are bitter.”
Hui-won demonstratively sucked on the plastic pack. The film flattened, and the dark extract rose up, spreading out root-like veins.
“If we kiss now, it’ll taste like herbal medicine. Since that’s the case, wouldn’t it be good to balance it out?”
He burst out laughing as if amazed. Taking a step closer, he lifted Hui-won up in one swift motion. As if proving he had energy to spare even without the tonic, he strode forward.
“Do you think I’d care about something like that?”
The corners of Hui-won’s eyes curved softly. Without any instruction, he naturally wrapped his arms around his shoulders. Their lips naturally met with soft smacking sounds.
It was a kiss sweet enough to overcome the bitter taste. On that day, Hui-won couldn’t have suspected in the slightest that his comfortable life was about to be shattered.
***
Monday morning, the secretaries gathered in the pantry before entering the weekly meeting. The narrow space was bustling as they busily moved to prepare their respective drinks. Some were steeping tea, others brewing coffee, some taking out snacks, each was doing their own thing.
Hui-won was leaning against the marble countertop, lightly loosening his stiff neck muscles. Just then, Secretary Ji, who had finished brewing coffee first, handed him a steaming mug.
“Oh, thanks.”
“Where did you go over the weekend? You look really tired.”
“I was just at home, that’s all.”
He said that, but Hui-won’s face was full of fatigue. To anyone looking, he seemed like someone who had spent a busy weekend.
As he stretched his stiff neck again, Secretary Ji, who was standing right next to him, sipped his coffee and stared piercingly at Hui-won. Specifically, at the back of his neck. Every time he bowed his head, skin hidden by his shirt collar peeked out, and distinct hickeys were intermittently visible.
“What is this!”
“What is?”
“Are you dating, General Manager?”
At that one remark, all attention focused. Not only did gazes gather, but before they knew it, the secretaries had tightly surrounded Hui-won. Among them, Secretary Lee’s eyes widened the most.
“What, what did you see?”
“I’m telling you, it’s on the back of the General Manager’s neck. That, that, what is it, that thing! A kiss mark!”
“In all my life, this is the first time I’ve heard the term ‘kiss mark’ spoken out loud.”
“Anyway, it was really there! Right, General Manager!”
Hui-won tilted his head back and sighed. He’d been so careful, but of all people, he had to get caught by the big-mouthed Secretary Ji. He hadn’t even known such a mark was left on his back. Sliding his fingers inside his shirt collar to feel around, he indeed felt slightly swollen skin.